Name: Baked Smothered Chicken with Gravy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 pieces of Chicken, bone-in legs or thighs; 1 tablespoon All purpose seasoning; 1 tablespoon Seasoned salt; 2 teaspoons Garlic powder; 2 teaspoons Onion powder; 2 teaspoons Paprika; 1 teaspoon Black pepper; 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning; ½ teaspoon Poultry seasoning, (optional but recommended); 2 tablespoons Avocado oil, (substitute Olive oil); 1 Red bell pepper, thinly sliced; 1 Green bell pepper, thinly sliced; ½ Yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced; ½ Onion, thinly sliced; 2 cups Chicken broth; 1 cup of Chicken broth, broth that the chicken cooked in; 1-1 ½ tablespoons Flour; ½ teaspoon Seasoned salt (adjust to taste); ½ teaspoon Black pepper (adjust to taste)

Take me to the Recipe

Smothered chicken is a savory, satisfying dish of seared chicken thighs and legs, oven-baked then slathered in rich, homemade gravy. Served with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed veggies, this is classic comfort food with Southern roots.

Interested in more baked chicken recipes? Then try my Baked Chicken Legs, Juicy Oven Roasted Chicken, and Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken.

Jump to:

Why We Love This Smothered Chicken Recipe:
What is Smothered Chicken?
Ingredients you need:
How to Make Smothered Chicken:
Alternatives and Variations:
Pro-Tips for the Best Smothered Chicken:
Storing and Reheating:
FAQ:
More Chicken Recipes to Try
Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this Smothered Chicken recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!

plated smothered chicken with veggies, mashed potatoes, and cornbread

Smothered chicken is the quintessential family dinner. Flavorful dark meat is seared until golden brown and then transferred to a baking dish so it can bake until tender. This alone is mouthwatering but add brown gravy made from scratch to the equation and this recipe goes from delicious to downright irresistible!

Why We Love This Smothered Chicken Recipe:

Quick and Easy! Bake chicken and learn how to make gravy with chicken broth and flour in just 1 hour with this simple recipe. The gravy does not include heavy cream so you do not have to worry about it curdling.

Tasty Chicken Dinner! Pan-frying the chicken before adding it to the oven adds extra savory flavor and yields juicy chicken every time.

Versatile! This is easy enough for a weeknight dinner but definitely works as part of your holiday spread, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year.

What is Smothered Chicken?

Smothered chicken is a Southern staple of oven baked chicken smothered in homemade gravy. It is classic soul food, often served with a starch like white rice or mashed potatoes, and other sides like cornbread, mac and cheese, and roasted veggies.

close up view of plated smothered chicken

Ingredients you need:

Chicken: Use bone-in legs or thighs for maximum flavor. Keep the skin on so it can crisp up on the stove for extra texture.
Seasoning: Season the chicken with all purpose seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, cajun seasoning, and poultry seasoning, (optional but recommended).
Avocado oil: Use this or olive oil to sear the chicken before baking.
Bell Peppers: Add thinly sliced red, green, and yellow bell peppers for a sweet, slightly spicy taste and color.
Onion: Thinly sliced onions add a touch of sweetness to balance the rich, savory flavors in this dish.
Chicken broth: This enhances the chicken flavor and acts as a base for the gravy.

Gravy:

Chicken broth: broth that the chicken cooked in
All-Purpose Flour:
Seasoning: Seasoned salt and black pepper (adjust to taste)

How to Make Smothered Chicken:

Clean Chicken

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Now spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.

Clean your chicken thoroughly with water and lime (or vinegar). Remove any impurities and/or feathers. Then add your cleaned chicken into a large bowl.

raw chicken in a bowl with water and limes

Season Chicken

Sprinkle in all of your seasonings including seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, cajun seasoning, and poultry seasoning.

Use gloved hands or tongs to mix all of the seasonings into the chicken thoroughly.

Sear Chicken

Heat up a large skillet on the stovetop over medium high heat. Add your avocado or olive oil into the skillet and let it heat up for 30 seconds to one minute.

Gently place the chicken pieces into the skillet in one single layer, careful not to overcrowd the skillet. Sear the chicken on each side for about 3 minutes, so that they can get a nice golden brown sear on them.

Tamara putting seasoned chicken into a skillet

Tamara holding tongs and flipping chicken legs on a skillet

Assemble Baked Chicken

While your soon-to-be smothered chicken is cooking in the skillet, slice up your bell peppers and onions. Once each piece of chicken is seared, add it to a baking dish, and top the chicken with the sliced peppers and onions.

Now gently pour the chicken broth over the chicken. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

seared chicken added to a baking pan with sliced veggies

Prepare Gravy

After 30 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven. Ladle out about 1 cup of the chicken broth from the baking dish and set it aside in a bowl or sauce pan and allow it to cool down for 5 minutes.

Place the chicken back in the oven uncovered and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, make creamy gravy by slowly whisking flour into the chicken broth that you set aside. Mix it well until there are no more lumps in the flour.

Add the gravy into a saucepan over medium heat, sprinkle in the salt and pepper, and continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes, until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.

chicken gravy in a pot with a spoon hovering over it

Serve Chicken and Gravy

Remove the chicken from the oven.

Finally, drizzle the gravy over the chicken. Enjoy your smothered chicken!

Alternatives and Variations:

Chicken: You can use this recipe to make smothered chicken wings, chicken breasts, or chicken cutlets if you prefer. The cooking time will vary.
Breaded Chicken: I sear the chicken but you can also coat the chicken with a seasoned flour mixture and pan fry for a more crunchy texture.
Spicy: Add cayenne pepper for a kick of spice.
No Chicken: Swap chicken for pork chops in this recipe.

plated smothered chicken and mashed potatoes

Pro-Tips for the Best Smothered Chicken:

You may need to sear the chicken in batches so the chicken gets crispy.
Do not add flour to very hot chicken broth. Allow the broth to cool down a bit so it's less likely to clump and then add the flour (before placing it on direct heat to thicken).
If the gravy gets too thick, add chicken broth into the skillet 1 teaspoon at a time.
Use a meat thermometer to determine if the chicken is done. The internal temperature of cooked chicken is 165°F.

Storing and Reheating:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm it up over low heat in a saucepan.

For longer storage, freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Tamara inserting a fork into a casserole dish full of smothered chicken

FAQ:

What is smothered chicken made of?

Smothered chicken is made with chicken thighs and legs, chicken broth, seasonings, bell peppers, onions, and flour.

How to make chicken tender and soft?

The most effective methods include using a marinade, cooking the chicken in broth, and not overcooking it.

Does baking chicken reduce fat?

Baked chicken is healthier than fried chicken, especially if you avoid adding extra fats (like butter or vegetable oil) and remove the skin. While it does not reduce the fat content of the chicken itself, baking chicken can help you consume less fat overall by avoiding additional fats used in other cooking methods.

a fork with smothered chicken on it beside a plate

More Chicken Recipes to Try

6 Chicken Legs

Baked Smothered Chicken with Gravy

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes